Indictments Handed Down In Nodine Hill 'Operation Elm Sweep' Sting

YONKERS, NY — A multi-agency investigation into the possession and sale of illegal narcotics in Yonkers between October 2021 and April 2022 has resulted in 12 people being indicted, Westchester County District Attorney Miriam Rocah announced on Tuesday.

The joint investigation initiated in October and conducted by the Yonkers Police Department, the Westchester County Department of Public Safety and the Violent Criminal Enterprise Bureau of the Westchester County District Attorney’s Office, focused on the illegal sale of narcotics in Yonkers.

The investigation culminated in the arrest of 14 people who investigators say were in possession of and sold cocaine on 27 separate occasions.

SEE ALSO: 'Operation Elm Sweep' Nabs 14 In Huge Nodine Hill Drugs, Gang Sting

"We are proud to have partnered with the Yonkers Police Department and the Westchester County Department of Public Safety, and applaud them for their hard work during this seven-month-long joint investigation," Rocah said. "We stand committed to collaborate with our law enforcement partners in our shared mission of proactively addressing violent crime through a precision policing and prosecution approach. I also commend the prosecutors in our Violent Criminal Enterprise Bureau for their invaluable work on this investigation. I am confident this operation will help keep Yonkers safer."

As of July 12, the defendants have each been arraigned in Westchester County Court. None of the charges are bail qualifying offenses, according to the DA's office.

A Westchester County Grand Jury indicted the defendants on the following charges, according to the District Attorney's Office:

• Dayquan Bailey, 25, of Yonkers, was charged with two counts of felony criminal sale of a controlled substance and two counts of felony criminal possession of a controlled substance.
• Tony Blair, 47, of Yonkers, was charged with felony criminal sale of a controlled substance and felony criminal possession of a controlled substance.
• Nasir Brown, 24, of Mount Vernon, was charged with six counts of felony criminal sale of a controlled substance and six counts of felony criminal possession of a controlled substance.
• Dejaequan Bryant, 28, of Yonkers, was charged with two counts of felony criminal sale of a controlled substance and two counts of felony criminal possession of a controlled substance.
• Russell Ellis, 29, of Yonkers, was charged with two counts of felony criminal sale of a controlled substance and two counts of felony criminal possession of a controlled substance.
• Shakeem Hamilton, 28, of Yonkers, was charged with two counts of felony criminal sale of a controlled substance and two counts of felony criminal possession of a controlled substance.
• Shawn Patterson, 34, of Yonkers, was charged with five counts of felony criminal sale of a controlled substance and five counts of felony criminal possession of a controlled substance.
• Daquan Rodriguez, 26, of Yonkers, was charged with two counts of felony criminal sale of a controlled substance and two counts of felony criminal possession of a controlled substance.
• Frankie Vega-Salazar, 28, of Yonkers, was charged with felony criminal sale of a controlled substance and felony criminal possession of a controlled substance.
• Jaher Watts, 21, of Yonkers, was charged with two counts of felony criminal sale of a controlled substance and two counts of felony criminal possession of a controlled substance.
• Durrell Whitney, 36, of Yonkers, was charged with felony criminal sale of a controlled substance and felony criminal possession of a controlled substance.
• Joseph Ynguanzo, 33, of Yonkers, was charged with felony criminal sale of a controlled substance and felony criminal possession of a controlled substance.

The cases are before Judge Anne Minihan, Judge Robert Neary, and Judge Robert Prisco in Westchester County Court, and are being prosecuted by the Violent Criminal Enterprise Bureau of the District Attorney’s Office.